Brake Van Er.10
Inherited from the Manx Northern Railway upon the amalgamation of 1905, this van was originally part of a batch delivered for the opening of the north line and differed from its counterparts on the Isle of Man Railway in having lookout duckets with integral roofs to the main body as illustrated in the photograph below. Originally numbered as No.16 on arrival, it was allocated Er.10 upon takeover, the small “r” suffix denoting its origins.
It had two sets of double doors (whereas earlier versions only had one), and survived in use after 1905, notably on permanent way trains, the Railway Company using the inherited stock in a number of ways. By 1910 it was noted as being used as a permanent way hut, the frames being broken up at this time. It survived for many years stored to the side of the old carriage shed at Douglas Station where it was photographed and measurements taken by the late Douglas Robinson of the Supporters’ Association in October 1966 in an effort to record for posterity the detail of this unique survivor.
It was removed in 1974 and taken to Ballasalla Station where it was sold for scrap along with many other items of historical stock at the time. A remarkable survivor. Based on drawings and notes taken the livery below shows how the van may have appeared, additionally it carried Manx Northern Railway crests on the left hand guards’ door lower panel opposite the wording, traces of which could still be seen in 1966 when the final sets of details were recorded.
A similar vehicle, M.N.Ry. No.15 (referred to by some sources as having been renumbered to Er.11) was also inherited, with only two of these vans in total originating from the Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co., but this appears to have succumbed relatively early as no records reveal its fate. The four-wheel brake vans were largely superseded upon the arrival of the first braked bogie carriages, and generally the former Manx Northern stock was not favoured by the Railway Company. There is no dedicated page on this site for the final vehicle.
M.N.Ry.:
I.M.Ry.:
Builders:
Built:
Width:
Length:
Height:
Fate:
Scrapped:
No.16
Er.10
Swansea
1879
6’ 8”
16’ 0”
7’ 10”
Scrapped
1974
How M.N.Ry. No.16 may have appeared on delivery based on limited historical documentation with imagined colour scheme and lettering.
Er.10 retained its lookout duckets until it was destroyed, seen here in latter days at the rear of the carriage shed at Douglas Station in October 1966 by the late Douglas Robinson
Faded lettering still appears on the compartment door and the lookout ducket is still intact in April 1969 during its final years behind the carriage shed at Douglas Station.
Seeing out its days behind the old carriage shed at Douglas Station showing lettering detail which was still evident in October 1966, one of a set of photos by Douglas Robinson.
The unusual style of lookout ducket with its integral roof unlike other stock, complete with surviving grab handle on the side though the compartment door has long since gone.
Spending its final years behind the carriage shed at Douglas Station this view by the late Alastair Lamberton is one of the last captured and dates from April 1969, prior to disposal.
Detail of the deeper type of brake ducket in the bulkhead which was unique to the inherited Manx Northern stock, the ducket itself long since removed by October 1966.